EELS: Autonomous snake-like robot with task and motion planning capabilities for ice world exploration.

Ice worlds are at the forefront of astrobiological interest because of the evidence of subsurface oceans. Enceladus in particular is unique among the icy moons because there are known vent systems that are likely connected to a subsurface ocean, through which the ocean water is ejected to space. An existing study has shown that sending small robots into the vents and directly sampling the ocean water is likely possible.

Tactile Sensing and Control of Robotic Manipulator Integrating Fiber Bragg Grating Strain-Sensor.

Tactile sensing is an instrumental modality of robotic manipulation, as it provides information that is not accessible via remote sensors such as cameras or lidars. Touch is particularly crucial in unstructured environments, where the robot's internal representation of manipulated objects is uncertain. In this study we present the sensorization of an existing artificial hand, with the aim to achieve fine control of robotic limbs and perception of object's physical properties.

The Effect of Preoperative Aspirin and/or Heparin Therapy on Coagulation and Postoperative Blood Loss after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Objective: To assess the effects of preoperative aspirin and/or intravenous heparin therapy on perioperative coagulation tests and postoperative blood loss for 24-hour after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Methods: Multiple conventional coagulation tests, activated clotting time, thrombelastograph, skin bleeding time and platelet aggregation were performed before induction of anaesthesia, following protamine administration and after skin closure in 45 patients.

Results: There was no significant difference in either coagulation tests or postoperative blood loss (median of 860 mL with a range of 275 to 2800 mL, versus 833 ml with a range of 500-1380 mL) between the aspirin and no-aspirin patients.

Prediction of the mediastinal drainage after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Using multiple correlation and linear regression approaches, we investigated the association between the amount of mediastinal drainage for the first 24 postoperative hours and clinical variables as well as multiple haematological tests performed at three time points: before anaesthesia induction, 10 minutes after protamine administration and just after skin closure, on 46 patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass grafting. Three models from the three times were then developed to predict mediastinal drainage. The number of internal mammary grafts, the total number of grafts and plasma fibrinogen concentration were useful predictors of mediastinal drainage at all three times.

Postoperative fibrinolysis diagnosed by thrombelastography.

Thrombelastography is a useful method for the monitoring of bedside coagulation, especially for fibrinolysis. We report a case where thrombelastography facilitated early detection of fibrinolysis with significant clinical bleeding in a patient immediately following hip replacement surgery. The early diagnosis enabled institution of antifibrinolytic therapy and monitoring of the patient's response.